The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-06
The New Year.

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the first of the new year; its the time
when all ''turn over new leaves" when
we make new resolves; when we
''swear off," when we form new reSO-
buttons; when we start anew to fight
for another year the battle of life, and
it is much, very much easier to think
and talk about it than to act and do.
The first of the new year is fitting
time to begin new plans; to cultivate
benevolence; to practice philanthropy;
to bestow charity; to to be humane,
loving, kind; its good time to practice
what you preach; its good time to
unmask deviltry and rascality; its a
good time to practically assist some
weak and helpless mortal up life's
steep incline; its good time to put
into execution some sensible scheme
that is to encourage those who are
weary and heavy laden; its good time
to put away all things evil, and become,
if we were not so before, manly men
and womenly women; its good time
to begin, if we have not already, to
perform some act of kindness for those
in the world less fortunate than our
selves.
We have all made mistakes during
the year just closed, and the errors of
our past we cannot rectify, but with
the beginning of the new year we can
profit by the false steps of last and see
to it that our mishaps do not occur
again.
We can think of nothing more de-
plorable than regrets over a miss-spent
life; we know Of no torture more dam
nable than remorse; we know of moth
ing more crushing, more demoralizing
than the pounding OF our own con
science; we can name nothing more
devastating than secret regrets over an
unsatisfactory, wretched
and wasted life.
Human life is more or less as we
shape it, but not altogether so. Much
Of lies trouble is brought on by our
own acts, though not all. Many of the
torments we suffer are the results of
our own carelessness, yet We are not
to blame. We only say that
we can improve ourselves by deter
mined effort to smother our sufferings
and embrace improved opportunities
which are presented to us.
There are thousands of people in this
world who would lose their minds were
they to sit quietly by themselves and
think over changes that had occurred in
their lives since last New Years day.
Hundreds last year sat around in the
family circle. who are not there this.
Many family dinner was served last
year that was not prepared this. Many
were in the enjoyment of health one
year ago who are tossing and tumbling
IN beds of pain this. Many helped
themselves year since, who are help
ess to-day, and we can look into many
/ darkened room and see scenes of de-.
'pair and sorrow there over a life that's
Utmost ended. We are waiting and
for the rustling of an angels
wing. There is many blank in many
! home that was made the empty space |
t is, on this, the first day of some of |
he many new years that have come |
nd gone.
Its this constant, ever-changing,
easeless flow of human events, with
which we have to deal. We know that
ach and every year produces its vic
inns. You, perchance, may have had
he great, good fortune to have escaped
hus far, but year hence your eye
hay be blackened by the fist of time.
.our home circle may be unbroken,
ut a year from now gloom may en-
elop the domestic shrine; we cannot |.
ell, and so it seems fitting and the
My correct thing to do to snatch from
fe its every bloom; grasp every bud
nd flower; breathe every sweet per-
Ime that the wings of life watt our
ay; inhale each fragrance; absorb each
~; let the hot blood of real enjoyment
lSh through our veiEs; love our homes,
IT wives, our children; Gull from life
S sweetest, perfect fruit; fill ourselves
it'll the honey of happiness and con-
cease our weary struggles
Il gains; for, by and by, and it won't
, long, before Old Father Time, with
S scythe, will come for us, and if we t
re this life for Christ, ourselves and
oSe we love, then we will be prepared
commence another new year in a S
Orld where there is no sorrow and the Q
rning of ''new leaf is not known.